2023s To Watch This Season – Part 1
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We’ve been through 3 weeks of high school summer ball and a month of AAU this summer and several players have started to really elevate their games in recent months. Here’s a look at some players to watch in the…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve been through 3 weeks of high school summer ball and a month of AAU this summer and several players have started to really elevate their games in recent months. Here’s a look at some players to watch in the Junior class.
Caleb Brooks Caleb Brooks 6'9" | C Cooper | 2023 State KY , Cooper – Brooks is legitimately 6’8 and has shown the ability to rebound and rim protect at a high level. Caleb is a skilled offensive player but tends to float around the perimeter too much on offense. If he’ll stay on or near the block and continue evolving his skill set, he should be a scholarship level player at the next level.
Kenyata Carbon Kenyata Carbon 6'1" | SG Owensboro | 2023 State KY , Owensboro – It remains to be seen if Carbon’s future is as a combo guard or a running back or defensive back on the football field but Kenyata has shown the ability to score at a high level in both high school and AAU and would likely be a more widely known name if he played closer to Louisville or Lexington than he does.
CJ Walls CJ Walls 6'2" | SF Trinity | 2023 State KY , Trinity – CJ averaged a modest 5 points and 2 rebounds per game for Trinity last season but had some huge scoring games for Manimal this AAU season. The Trinity system doesn’t necessarily allow for a ton of individual shine but Walls should be able to carve himself out a bigger role in his Junior season and be on some college radars, if he’s not already.
Parker Payne Parker Payne 6'1" | PG South Laurel | 2023 State KY , South Laurel – Payne is my early choice for breakout player in the 13th region. Parker was good in his Sophomore season for the Cardinals but was a top player at the Mack, Miller and Lofton event in June and showed he can handle even the highest levels of pressure from opposing defenses and is a good shot maker too. Keep an eye on Payne and South Laurel in the 13th.
Anthony Lawrence Anthony Lawrence 5'10" | PG Western | 2023 State KY , Western – Western gets a lot of names on this site because they have possibly the most talented roster in Kentucky but one player who doesn’t get a ton of individual shine is Lawrence. Ant is small and quick and built like a tank. He’s a lock down defender with great instincts as a passer and can finish over taller players. He thrives in an up tempo setting and can wreak havoc on opposing teams over the course of a game.